NHL: Red Wings move to top of Central Division

The Detroit Red Wings’ Niklas Kronwall, front, checks the Chicago Blackhawks’ Bryan Bickell into the boards during the second period of their NHL game in Chicago on Sunday.

Photo: Reuters

Pavel Datsyuk’s overtime winner helped the Detroit Red Wings move to the top of the Central Division with a 3-2 victory over the reeling Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.

With less than two minutes remaining in the extra period, Datsyuk gathered a rebound and lifted a wrist shot from a difficult angle into the net as the Red Wings rallied past their divisional rival, who were consigned to a fourth straight loss.

“It was a good screen and I hopped on the puck,” Datsyuk told reporters. “The goalie [Corey Crawford] just fell on the ice and I just shot and made sure I didn’t miss.”

Chicago led 2-0 on first period goals from Dave Bolland and Patrick Sharp, but could not hold on to the lead and are now mired in their longest losing skid since they dropped five straight in 2009.

Detroit’s Valtteri Filppula cut the deficit to 2-1 later in the first and that scoreline stood until Daniel Cleary tied the game with just under five minutes remaining in regulation.

Henrik Zetterberg assisted on both goals for the Red Wings.

With the win, Detroit (26-14-1) moved into a three-way tie at the top of the division with St Louis and Chicago.

“I see this battle going on all year and the conference is tightening up, as well, but we did give away a lot of ground here this week and it’s up to us to regain where we’re at,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said.

The Blackhawks earned a one-goal win over the Red Wings in the United Center on Dec. 30, but have not won since.

Sharp, who recorded his 20th goal of the season, left the game in the second period with an injury and did not return. He was to be evaluated yesterday.

Chicago also had a goal disallowed early in the third when it appeared a shot hit goaltender Ty Conklin and crossed the line, but it was not ruled as a score and could not be reviewed.

Conklin finished with 29 saves and stopped a penalty shot from Jimmy Hayes in the third to keep his team in the contest.

SENATORS 6, FLYERS 4

In Ottawa, Filip Kuba scored the go-ahead goal with 1 minute, 11 seconds left as Ottawa beat Philadelphia to earn a split of the weekend series.

Kuba fired a slap shot from the left point past goalie Ilya Bryzgalov and Nick Foligno sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 45 seconds to go.

Colin Greening and Erik Karlsson scored earlier in the third period for the Senators, who erased a 4-2 deficit. Daniel Alfredsson and Chris Neil had goals in the first for Ottawa, which is on a 5-0-1 run.

Matt Read scored a power-play goal in the second and assisted on one of three Flyers goals in the first. Andrej Meszaros scored 2:32 into his 500th NHL game to draw Philadelphia even at 1-1. Marc-Andre Bourdon and Sean Couturier had goals 28 seconds apart to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead later in the period.

DUCKS 7, BLUE JACKETS 4

In Anaheim, California, Corey Perry completed his fourth NHL hat-trick by scoring into an empty net in the final minute as Anaheim defeated Columbus in a clash of the NHL’s two worst teams.

Teemu Selanne had two goals and Anaheim won despite losing goalie Jonas Hiller in the first period. Saku Koivu and Andrew Cogliano also scored for the Ducks.

Rick Nash had two goals and Derick Brassard and Vinny Prospal also scored for the Blue Jackets, who missed a chance to overtake Anaheim in the battle to avoid last place in the standings.

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